I've always been an adventurous person and I knew eventually I'd want to just take off and see the world, so that is what I did. I was traveling Europe when I got an e-mail from my brother who was living in Brazil and had met a girl from New York. She told us about The Naked Cowboy [2], who had been performing there a long time, having fun and making good money. She suggested that there should be a Naked Cowgirl, and my brother thought I'd be perfect for the job.

I decided to just go ahead and take a risk, move from the Bavarian Alps to New York City and become The Naked Cowgirl.

My first impression of New York City? It was extremely different from the small German town that I'd just been living in. It was quite overwhelming to say the least. When I first stepped into Times Square, it was just lights, people and massive buildings and I was in total awe. It was kind of shocking. I took my breath away. The first time I stepped into Times Square was also the first time I introduced The Naked Cowgirl. I got my little outfit on and stepped out.

I wear Gina's Gems to cover my nipples, a micro-mini skirt, boots and a hat. Of course I also have my guitar. The thing is, it's quite a process for me to get ready, whereas The Naked Cowboy can just jump out of his car in his undies and go out - you know how guys are!

It's different for a girl. I have to wake up, take a shower, do my hair, put on my makeup, put my Gina's Gems on with pastie glue, and then get all my stuff into my backpack. I wear a dress walking to Times Square, so when I get there, I take my dress off, put my hat on, and put my gear into my guitar case.

I'm very comfortable with who I am and with my body. I feel that women have come a long way, so to be able to get out there and express myself and just be completely free, is really liberating. I'm totally carefree. I look at my act as a wholesome act. I don't put off a slutty vibe. I come off as a sweet, innocent, nice girl and when people look at me, I think they pick up on that. I just make them smile.

Some doors have opened up because of this. I have some people down in Nashville who want to work with me. I'm not sure when that's all going to come about, but hopefully in the near future.

Incidentally, I was arrested for indecent exposure in Nashville once, but it's not the only time I've been arrested. I've been arrested three times in Times Square - but not for that. I usually work 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m and then again from 9:00 to 11:00 at night, when the Broadway crowd gets out. I really love that hour - everyone's lively and fun.

There was no problem the first season I did it, but during the second season, toward the end, there was a new police captain working that precinct, and he decided he didn't want me there. The excuse he used was silly; it was "impeding pedestrian traffic," which is disorderly conduct. I wasn't considered to be impeding traffic during the day, so I don't see how it would be any different at night.

The island I stand on is very large compared to what the Naked Cowboy stands on. People have plenty of space to walk by. They brought me back to the station-maybe it was the Captain's treat for the boys for the night, I'm not sure. But the charges dropped. I just heard there's a new captain in Times Square, so hopefully I won't get arrested by him.

The Naked Cowboy gets arrested for wearing his get-up in public buildings. Personally, I feel I need to wear clothes if I go out to a restaurant or something. Times Square is my stage, and when I'm on stage, the show is on. People expect to see unusual things in Times Square. But when I'm not performing, I feel it doesn't really make sense for me not to wear clothes. I don't want to make people feel uncomfortable.

I would look at the Naked Cowboy as someone who came into my life and has shared with me a lot of wisdom. We both have the same outlook on life, but he's shown me a path you can take that is complete freedom. It's who you are and living exactly as you want to be living. I'm so grateful to have met him and for this opportunity.

This livelihood allows me to live the life I want to live and it brings me a lot of happiness. It brings a lot of happiness to a lot of other people too. I get people writing me telling me I'm the greatest thing that happened to them in Times Square. I'll talk to people and give them suggestions about the city or answer questions. I really love being around people and this job allows me to meet thousands of people.

I can't even say how many pictures there must be of me out there in the world. I take about two pictures a minute sometimes, and usually work a total of about five hours, so you do the math. And that is just where I'm actually posing for the picture, but so many are also taken without my even being aware - passing tourist buses, etc. So, you could probably say I've been in millions of pictures.

It's also a fruitful livelihood. I am able to support myself. But I don't like coins. No coins in the boot please! I have to walk home, and coins just go straight to the toe. If I do get coins, I just put all of them on top of an electrical box nearby and leave them for the homeless people.

We're all exactly the same whether we're famous or not. Fame just sort of comes along with this job that I do, but I don't really feel any different in public. It's just the same. I would say when you're doing what you want to be doing and are happy and have the freedom you want, it's the pinnacle of success.

I'm living in the here and now, which we should all be doing. And in this moment, I'm just happy to make people smile. I recently started playing the banjo, so I'll be bringing my banjo to Times Square this spring. We'll see what kind of response I'll get from that. Ultimately, I just want to be remembered for my free spirit and smile.

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If you enjoyed this story, you may also enjoy: The Tao Of The Naked Cowboy [3]